Address type selective printing machines



March 29, 1955 F. E. LINGARD 2,704,976

ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES Fild Jan. 5, 1952 1oSheets-Sheet 1 & JJ

I m 0 v E Q a a E,

Q0 @J I\ INVENTORI FREDERICK ERNEST LINGARD ATTORNEYS:-

March 29, 1955 F. E. LINGARD 2,704,976

ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1952 10Sheets-Sheet 2 ,.o.') 3 HTIMB .b

.MOGMOJ .OVIAJDVIB INVENTORZ FREDERICK ERNEST LINGARD ATTORNEYS:

March 29, 1955 F. E. LINGARD 2,704,975

ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1952 10Sheets-Sheet 3 .INVENTORZ FREDERICK ERNEST LIN GARD m M Ma ATTOR N EYSMarch 29, 1955 F. E. LINGARD ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES l0Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1952 m A T N E v m FREDERICK ERNEST'LINGARD BY:

ATTORNEYS:

March 29, 1955 F. E. LINGARD ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES 1oShets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 5, 1952 J. SMITH 8 (30.,

LONDON.

ENGLAND.

4 S5 L 77 off 999 INVENTORZ FREDERICK ERNEST LINGARD ATTORN EYS:

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ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1952 10Sheets-Sheet '7 i I l n I JZ Gjfi INVENTOR: FREDERICK ERNEST LINGARD BY:I

AT TO R N EYS March 29, 1955 LlNGARD 2,704,976

ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1952 I 10Sheets-Sheet 8 [MD I545 I455 /46A i 145' i 2 I J'YIGM V INVENTOR:FREDERICK ERNEST "LINGARD m M 5m ATTOR NEYSZ March 29, 1955 F. E.LINGARD 2,704,976

ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1952 10Sheets-Sheet 9 J'I'Gl 15 INVENTOR:

FREDERICK ERNEST LINGARD ATTORNEYS March 29, 1955 D 2,704,976

ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1952 10Sheets-Sheet 1O 95 J'hi/Z E 1/9 L i 5 INVENTORI FREDERICK ERNEST LiNGARDZfldla/ca ana 644070070 AT TO R N EYS'.

United States Patent ADDRESS TYPE SELECTIVE PRINTING MACHINES FrederickErnest Lingard, Kenton, England, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 5, 1952, Serial No.265,080

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 12, 1951 6 Claims.(Cl. 101-58) This invention relates to printing machines and isconcerned with printing machines of the kind which are arranged to feedprinting devices, distinguished by selectively arranged identifyingmeans, in sequence to a sensing device where the identifying means aresensed, the devices being thereafter moved to a printing mechanism wherean impression is made therefrom, or not, according to the result of thesensing.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a printingmachine of the kind referred to and adapted for operation with a sensingmechanism for sensing identifications upon record carriers, which latterare fed in succession through the sensing mechanism, the

printing machine having means for coupling the printing device sensingmeans to the record sensing mechanism to effect control of the printingmechanism so that when the identifying means of the plate being sensedare in agreement with the identifications of the record carrier beingsensed, a printing impression of the last-mentioned device is made whenthis plate reaches the printing mechanism, whilst when there is no suchagreement the printing mechanism makes no such an impression, thecoupling means being arranged to ensure that the record sensingmechanism retains each record carrier in the sensing position in saidmechanism until said agreement occurs.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by Way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a printing machine coupled to a cardsensing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a printing device;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same printing device;

Fig. 4 is a partly sectioned front elevation on an enigrgeil scale ofthe sensing device of the machine of Fig. 5 is a section on the line VVof Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VIVI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of delay mechanism ofthe machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a detail of the delay device in oneoperative position;

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9 but showing the parts in a differentoperative position;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line Xl-XI of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is a simplified circuit diagram of the printing machine;

Fig. 13 shows a part of the circuit diagram in greater detail;

Fig. 14 shows another part of the circuit diagram in greater detail;

Fig. 15 shows a still further part of the circuit diagram in greaterdetail;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a card for use with the card sensing mechanismof Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic section through the sensing mechanism; and

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic elevation to an enlarged scale showing thesensing needles of the card sensing mechanism.

The printing machine illustrated is, as regards its general arrangementand operation, substantially the same as the machine shown and describedin Letters Patent Nos. 2,359,850 and 2,359,851.

The printing machine has a desk-like frame 1 affording a table top 2 onwhich sheets may be disposed to be printed upon. The printing operationsare performed from printing devices 3 which are fed, one by one, from asupply magazine 4 to a printing position 5 located adjacent the forwardedge 6 of the table top 2, and are then discharged into a drawer 7. Whena printing device 3 is located at the printing position 5 beneath asheet on the table top 2, a printed impression is made from the printingdevice 3 by a platen mechanism 8. The platen mechanism 8 is supportedover the printing position 5 by means of a printing frame 9 which isdescribed in detail in Letters Patent No. 2,359,849.

The platen mechanism 8 includes a carriage 10 mounted for reciprocationin a direction from front to rear of the machine. The carriage 10 has aplaten roller 11 mounted so that the latter may be lowered into anoperative position with respect to a sheet and a printing device 3 inthe printing position 5 for the purpose of producing a printedimpression on the sheet from the printing device 3. Such lowering of theplaten roller 11 into an operative position, as well as the retractionof the platen roller to an inoperative position takes place on accountof the reciprocatory movement of the carriage 10 and such lowering andraising of the roller 11 is accomplished by a linkage mechanism theconstruction and operation of which is fully described in the aforesaidLetters Patent No. 2,359,849.

The printing devices 3 (Figs. 2 and 3) are of rectangular form andcarry, for example, type characters from which a name and address and/orother matter may be printed. The printing device includes a frame 12which has a number of retaining clips 13, a retaining bead 13' and aretaining stop 14 struck therefrom. A depressible tongue 15 is alsostruck from the frame 12. When the tongue 15 is depressed, a printingplate 16 having type characters from which a name and address and/orother matter may be printed thereon may be slid endwise along the clips13 and the bead 13 until the plate encounters the stop 14. The tongue 15is then released and the plate is then in proper position in theprinting frame 12. The printing frame also has clips 17 and a retainingbead 17 for receiving and retaining an index card 18. Twelve sockets 19are formed in each frame 12 along one of the longer edges thereof, andthese sockets are each adapted to receive a stem 20 of a tab 22 in suchmanner that when the stem 20 is placed in a socket 19 a part of the tabgrojects beyond the adjacent marginal edge of the printing evrce.

One end of a guideway, the construction and operation of which isillustrated and described in detail in the aforesaid Letters Patent No.2,359,850, is located beneath the bottom of the magazine 4. The guidewayextends from the magazine 4 through a sensing device 21 to the printingposition 5. A feeding mechanism as described in said Letters Patent No.2,359,850 is provided for advancing devices 3 along the guideway andisarranged to move periodically a device from the bottom of the stack ofdevices in the magazine 4 to the sensing device 21. After a sensingoperation has taken place, the feeding mechanism transfers the senseddevice 3 to the printing position 5, where the platen mechanism 8 will,or will not, according to the result of the sensing operation, cause animpression to be made from the sensed device 3. The devices 3 passingfrom the printing position 5 are delivered into the tray 7 where theyare stacked in the same order as they were originally stacked in themagazine 4.

The sensing device 21 is overlaid by a cover 22 (Figs. 1 and 4) fixed tothe frame 1, and has a bar 23 extending transversely of the guideway andperpendicular to the axis of that part of the guideway which is beneaththe bar. A recess 24 is formed in the underside of the bar 23 to receivea beam 25. A pin 26 having an enlarged head 28 extends downwardly fromthe bar 23 to cooperate with a recess 27 extending inwardly from theleft-hand end (Fig. 4) of the beam 25. A horizontally extending lip 29is formed at the right-hand end of the recess 24 for supporting theright-hand end of the beam 25. The beam 25 is positioned in the recess24 by inserting the end of the beam 25 having the recess 27 in therecess 24 so that the recess 27 engages with the pin 26, and thenswinging the right-hand end (Fig. 4) of the beam 25 into the positionwhere it rests on the lip 29. The left-hand end of the beam 25 is thensupported by the head 28 of the pin 26 and the right-hand end (Fig. 4)by the lip 29.

Twelve depending pins 30 are spaced along the beam 25 the pins beingplaced for cooperation with the tabs 21 located in the sockets 19 of theprinting plate 3. Each pin 30 also cooperates with a plunger 31 (Fig. 5)mounted for vertical reciprocation within the bar 23. Each plunger 31carries an upwardly extending pin 32 which passes through a plug 33secured in the bar 23. A spring 34 is located between the plug 33 andthe plunger 31 for urging the latter downwardly. Downward movement ofthe plunger 31 is limited by mutually locked nuts 35 and 36 threaded onthe top end of the pin 32. Contacts 37 and 38 are carried by springreeds 39 and 40 respectively, which latter are mounted on a bar 41secured to the bar 23, reed 40 being insulated from reed 39. One pair ofcontacts 37 and 38 are provided for cooperation with each nut 36, and itwill be seen that when the reeds 39 and 40 are undeflected the contacts37 and 38 are apart.

The beam 25 has twelve holes 42 for receiving the pins 30, which latterhave enlarged heads 43 that rest on the beam 25, and beam 25 also hastwenty-four holes 44 (Fig. 6) for receiving other pins to be referred toin greater detail hereinafter.

An arm 45 (Fig. 4) is provided for locking the beam 25 in positionwithin the recess 24, and this arm 45 is pivoted about a pin 46 securedin the bar 23. One end 47 of a spring wire 48 bears on a pin 49projecting laterally from the arm 45 and the other end 50 of the springwire 48 passes between pins 51 and 52 which project laterally from thebar 23. The free end of the arm 45 has a recess 53 for engaging alaterally projecting stud 54 on the beam 25. Angular movement of the arm45 about the pin 46 is limited by a pin 55 on the bar 23 engaging in aslot 56 provided in the arm 45. When the arm 45 is lifted to such anextent that pin 55 encounters the lower end of slot 56, the lower edgeof the arm 45 is clear of the heads 43 of the pins 30 carried by thebeam 25. Accordingly, when a pin 30 moves vertically upwards withrespect to the beam 25, the head 43 of the pin 30 encounters the plunger31 and the latter is also moved upwardly whereupon the nut 36 eventuallycauses the contact 37 to encounter the contact 38. Such engagementbetween the contacts causes an electric circuit to be placed in acondition for operation.

The bar 23 has two depending guide rods 57 and 58 for guiding verticalmovement of the sensing device 21, and the sensing device 21 is arrangedfor vertical movement so that when a printing plate 3 is correctlypositioned for a sensing operation the device 21 descends and those pins30 that encounter tabs 22 move upwardly with respect to the beam 25 andclose their associated contacts 37, 38. Vertical movement of the device21 is effected by mechanism described in detail in the aforesaid LettersPatent No. 2,359,851, the parts 502 and 503 of the latter correspondingto the guide rods 57 and 58.

The contacts 37, 38 are electrically connected to an electric relaysystem which is controlled by a card sensing mechanism 59 (Fig. 1). Theelectric relay system, to be described in greater detail hereinafter, isarranged so that when it receives information from the card sensingmechanism 59 that agrees with information received from the platesensing device 21, a delay device is actuated which ensures that theparticular device 3 that was undergoing sensing when the agreement tookplace will be subjected to the printing operation when it reaches theprinting position 5. The delay device is a slightly modified form of thedevice described in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 2,359,851, withparticular reference to Fig. 35 thereof, and essentially consists of adrum 60 (Fig. 7) having six longitudinally extending grooves 61 formedat equiangular intervals around the surface thereof. Blocks 62 arelocated in the grooves 61, and these blocks 62 are slidable along thegrooves from a first position (Fig. 9

to a second position (Fig. 10). When a printing device 3 is beingsensed, one of the blocks 62 is opposite the head 63 (Figs. 9 and 10) ofa striker arm 64. The striker arm 64 is pivoted at 65 to a bracket 66(Figs. 7, 9 and 10) and carries a cam follower 67 that cooperates with.a cam surface 68 on means 69 which is adapted to move up and down withthe sensing device 21. A spring 70 connected between the bracket 66 andarm 64 urges the follower 67 into contact with the cam surface 68.

A solenoid 71 (Figs. 7 and 8) having an armature 72 is supported fromthe bracket 66. One end of the armature 72 is pivotally connected to onearm 73 of a bell-crank pivoted at 74. The other arm 75 of the bellcrankis connected by a spring 76 to the bracket 66 whereby the armature 72 isspring urged to the position shown in Fig. 8. When the solenoid 71 isenergized, the armature 72 moves to the left from the position shown inFig. 8, whereupon the bell-crank is pivoted about 74 in a clockwisedirection and the left-hand end 75' of the arm 75 is raised to aposition where it is level with an abutment 77 of the arm 64.

Each block 62 has a lug 78 (Fig ll) for cooperation with a spiral-shapedcam 79 which is fixed relative to the drum 60. Each block 62 also has alug 80 for cooperating with a lever 81 (Fig. 7) which is pivoted about apin 82. For each complete up-and-down movement of the sensing device 21,the drum 60 is rotated through 60 to position the next block 62 oppositethe striker head 63 of the arm 64. The upper block 62 of Fig. 11 is inthe second position previously referred to in connection with Fig. 10and, when in this position, the lug 80 is positioned to encounter thelower end of the lever 81 whereby the latter is tripped. As the drum 60is rotated in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 7), the lug 78 of theupper block 62 (Fig. 11) encounters the cam 79 and the block is moved tothe position corresponding to that of the block 62 shown in Fig. 9 andthe lower block 62 in Fig. 11. When in the lower position shown in Fig.11, the lug 78 has passed beyond, in an angular direction, the end ofcam 79. When, therefore, the righthand end of the lower block 62 of Fig.11 is struck by the head 63, this block 62 is moved to the said secondposition.

The upper end of lever 81 is adapted, through a spring 83A, to causelongitudinal movement of a control link 83 when the lever 81 is trippedas a result of being engaged at its lower end by a lug 80 on one of theblocks 62. The control link 83 is the same as the connecting link 785 inthe previously referred to Letters Patent No. 2,359,851, and is adaptedto control operation of the platen mechanism 8 to effect printingwhenever a block 62 passes the lever 81 without causing the latter to betripped. On the other hand, when the lever 81 is tripped the controllink 83 is moved longitudinally to cause the printing device 3 atposition 5 to be skipped, i. e. no impression i s taken from this platewhilst it is in the prlntmg position.

When agreement between the plate sensing operation and card sensingoperation occurs, the solenoid 71 is energized and the end 75 of arm 75is positioned level with the abutment 77. As the means 69 having the camsurface 68 moves vertically, the follower 67 does not remain in contactwith the surface 68 since the abutment 77 encounters the end 75 andhence the striker 63 is prevented from sliding the lowermost block 62from said first to said second position. When the said lowermost blockeventually reaches the aforementioned uppermost position, the lever 81will not be tripped and hence the control rod 83 will not prevent aprinting operation from taking place.

The sensing device 21, the feeding mechanism for moving prmtmg plates 3along the guideway from the magazine 4 through the sensing device 21 tothe printmg position 5, the drum 60 and platen mechanism 8 are alldriven from one prime mover as described in the aforesaid Letters PatentNo. 2,359,851.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 17, the card sensing mechanism has a hopper 84for receiving a stack of record cards 85 placed one on top of the other.An aperture 86 is formed at the bottom of the hopper 84 so that thebottom card 85 may be withdrawn from the stack in the hopper 84. Aroller 87 contacts the bottom card 85 in the stack in the hopper 84, andwhen this roller 87 is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 17) thiscard moves laterally from the hopper 84 along a guideway 88. Drivenrollers 89 cooperate with rollers 91 to advance the cards along theguideway 88 to a receiver 90 where the sensed cards are stacked. Thefirst roller 91A of the rollers 91 is mounted on a shaft 92 carried in abearing member 93 which is slidable vertically in fixed guides 94. Thebearing member 93 has an upstanding arm 95 the upper end of which ispivotally connected to one end of a lever 96 which is pivoted centrallyto a fixed member. The other end of the lever 96 is pivotally connectedto a rod 97 the upper end of which is connected for operating a microswitch 98 and the lower end of which is connected for operating a microswitch 99.

A stop 100 carrying a follower 101 for a cam 102 is mounted for verticalmovement under the action of the cam 102 to project above the guideway88 to prevent a card 85 moving along the guideway, or to descend so thatit does not project above the guideway whereby cards 85 are permitted toadvance along the guideway 88. A stop 103 having a follower 104 for acam 105 is provided for a purpose similar to that of the stop 100. Theroller 87, rollers 89, cam 102, cam 105 and a cam 106 are all driven bya chain 107 which passes around a driving sprocket 108. The sprocket 108is driven from an electric motor 109 through a clutch 110 and gears 111and 112. The clutch 110 is operated by a pivoted lever 113 from asolenoid 114.

The cam 106 cooperates with a follower 115 carried at the lower end of avertical rod 116 (Fig. 18). The rod 116 supports a plate 117 which hasdepending guide rods 118 the lower ends of which are slidably receivedin guide members 119 mounted on a base plate 126. The plate 117 carriesthirty needles 120 disposed in three rows of ten one behind the other.In Figs. 17 and 18 only the front row is visible, the needles of theother two rows being obscured by the aligned needles of the front row.Each needle is slidable vertically with respect to the plate 117 and hasa nut 121 whereby it is supported from the plate 117. On the undersideof the plate 117 each needle has a collar 122 and a spring 123 islocated between the collar 122 and the plate 117 for urging the needles120 downwardly. A plug 124 of insulation material is secured on theupper end of each needle, the plug 124 having a metal band 125 disposedaround the central portion of the periphery thereof. The base plate 126which supports the members 119 also supports a frame 127 which in turnmounts contacts 128. Each contact 128 is carried on one end of a leafspring 129 the other end of which is secured to the frame 127. Onecontact is provided for cooperation with each band 125, and each band125 is electrically connected to a terminal 130 at the top of each plug124.

When an impulse is received by the solenoid 114 the clutch 110 isengaged, the clutch remaining engaged for a complete sensing cycleirrespective of the energization of the solenoid 114. Engagement of theclutch causes the chain 107 to be driven by the motor 109. Eventuallythe rod 116 rises from the position shown in Fig. 17 due to the actionof cam 106 and the needles 120 clear the card 85 in the position C. Thestops 100 and 103 descend from the position shown in Fig. 17, and therollers 89 cause the card 85 in the position B to move to the position Cand the card 85 in the sensing position C to be moved into the receiver90. Simultaneously, the roller 87 causes the bottom card 85 in thehopper 84 to be moved out of the hopper 84 to a position where it isgripped between the first pair of rollers 89, 91A and moved to theposition B. The stop 100 rises to prevent the card 85, which is nowpositioned at B, from moving too far along the guideway 88 and similarlythe stop 103 rises to abut against the leading edge of the card 85 inthe position C. The rod 116 under the action of the cam 106 thendescends whereby the needles 120 descend to sense the card in theposition C, and the clutch 110 then disengages. It will be realized thatthe motion of the cards in the positions B and C along the guideway 88is arrested by the stops 100 and 103 while the rollers 89 continue torotate when the rod 116 is descending. Slip therefore occurs between therollers 89 and the cards in the positions B and C, but since there isonly a very light grip on the cards by the cooperating rollers 89 and91, the slipping action does not damage the cards or otherwise interferewith the operation of the machine.

Should two cards 85 be fed from the bottom of the hopper 84 instead ofone, the two cards in passing between the first pair of rollers 89 and91A will cause the latter roller to rise whereby the rod 97 will becaused to descend and the micro switch 99 will be operated. Similarly,if no card 85 is fed from the hopper 84 to the position B, the roller91A descends and contacts the roller 89. The rod 97 will rise and themicro switch 98 will be operated.

Fig. 16 shows a plan view of a card 85, and it will be seen that thiscard at the left-hand end has three vertical columns of numbers from 0to 9 reading downwards. The central portion of the card 85 hasidentifying and other matter written thereon within the rectangle 131. Acircular hole 132 is punched through the card to remove one of thenumbers in each of the vertical columns. Each of these vertical columnscorresponds to one of the digits of a three-figure number, viz. theleft-hand column the hundreds digit, the middle row the tens digit andthe right-hand row the units digit. The card in Fig. 16 has been punchedto obliterate "8 in the hundreds column, 4 in the tens column and 5 inthe units column.

The three rows of needles 120 are disposed with the rows parallel to theaxis of the path of the cards 85 through the sensing mechanism, and eachrow of needles 120 corresponds to one of the digits of a three-figurenumber. The front row represents units, and the needles in this rowcorrespond to the numbers 0 to 9 reading from right to left, the middlerow (i. e. the row immediately behind the front row), corresponds totens and the needles in this row correspond to 0, 10, 20, 30 to 90reading from right to left, and the rear row of needles corresponds tohundreds, the needles in this row corresponding to 0, 100, 200, 300 to900 reading from right to left. When a card 85 is in the sensingposition C and the plate 117 is lowered, one needle 120 only in each rowpasses through a hole 132 in the card 85 and contacts the base plate 126beneath the card, and the nine needles in each row that are not oppositea hole 132 encounter the upper surface of the card 85 in the sensingposition C before their bands 125 have encountered the associatedcontacts 128. The needle 120 in each row that enters a hole 132,however, descends further than the other nine needles of the row, andcontact between the band 125 of this needle and its associated contact128 is established, whereby an electric circuit is placed in a conditionfor operation. It will be seen, therefore, that the three punched holes132 in the card 85 serve as means for identifying the card. Theterminals 130 and contacts 128 associated with each needle are connectedto the electric relay system mentioned hereinbefore.

The twelve pins 30, Fig. 5, and their contacts 38 are connected in threegroups 133, 134, of four (Fig. 12) so that the group 133 representsunits, the group 134 represents tens and the group 135 representshundreds. All the contacts 37 are connected to a positive terminal 139.The four contacts 38 of each group represent the numerals 1, 2, 4 and 7,and by using one or a combination of two of these contacts, digits from0 to 9 are obtained as follows:

Digit -the first pin 30 in the group encounters a tab 22. Digit thesecond pin 30 in the group encounters a tab 22.

Digit 3first and second pins 30 in the group encounter tabs 22.

Digit) 242the third pin 30 in the group encounters a Digit the first andthird pins 30 in the group encounter tabs 22.

Digit 6the second and third pins 30 in the group encounter tabs 22.

Digit) Z;the fourth pin 30 in the group encounters a Digit 8the firstand fourth pins 30 in the group encounter tabs 22.

Digit the second and fourth pins 30 in the group encounter tabs 22.

Digit 0the third and fourth pins 30 in the group encounter tabs 22.

It will be understood therefore that by placing tabs 22 in appropriatesockets 19 of a device 3 any number between 000 and 999 can berepresented, the tabs 22 therefore serving as identifying means for theprinting device 3. For example, to represent the number 845," tabs 22are placed in the sockets 19 opposite the first and fourth pins 30 inthe hundreds group, opposite the third pin 30 in the tens group andopposite the third pin 30 in the tens group and opposite the first andthird pins 30 of the units" group.

The electric relay system essentially consists of three identicalsub-divisions 136, 137, 138, the sub-division 136 dealing with units andbeing connected to the units contacts 130 and units contacts 38 of thepins, the sub-division 137 dealing with tens and being connected to thetens" contacts 130 and tens contacts 38, and the sub-division 138dealing with hundreds and being connected to the hundreds contacts 130and the hundreds contacts 38. Detailed circuit diagrams of thesubdivisions 136, 137, 138 are shown in Figs. 13, 14, 15 respectively.

The positive terminal 139 of a D. C. supply 140 (obtained from adomestic A. C. supply through a stepdown transformer 141 and a copperoxide bridge rectifier 142) is connected to the contacts 37. The contact38 associated with the first pin 30 in the units" group is connected bya wire 143 to a terminal 144A of a solenoid 144 (Fig. 13), the contact38 associated with the second pin 30 in the same group is connected by awire 145 to a terminal 146A of a solenoid 146, the contact 38 associatedwith the third pin 30 in the same group is connected by a wire 147 to aterminal 148A of a solenoid 148 and the contact 38 associated with thefourth pin 30 in the same group is connected by a wire 149 to a terminal150A of a solenoid 150. The other terminals 144B, 146B, 148B and 150B ofthe four solenoids 144, 146, 148, 150 are connected to the negativeterminal 151, Fig. 12, of the D. C. supply. The solenoid 144 controlsthree switches 152A, 153A, 154A, the solenoid 146 controls threeswitches 152B, 153B, 1548, the solenoid 148 controls three switches152C, 153C, 154C and the solenoid 150 controls three switches 152D, 153Dand 154Dv Each of these twelve switches has a first and a secondposition. The three switches associated with each solenoid 144, 146,148, 150 are in their first positions when their associated solenoid isunenergized and in their second position when the solenoid is energized.A solenoid 155, Fig. 12, is connected between the D. C. negativeterminal 151 and the contacts 128 of the card sensing mechanism. Theunits solenoid 155 is arranged so that when it is energized it closes aunits" master switch 156 which is in series with the tens master switch157 and the hundreds master switch 158 of the other two subdivisions137, 138 of the electric relay system. When the three master switches156, 157, 158 are closed the solenoid 71 is energized, and the strikerhead 63 is prevented from impinging upon one of the blocks 62 of thedelay device. The solenoid 71 when energized also closes a switch 168for transmitting an electric release impulse to the solenoid 114 of thecard sensing mechanism.

The ten terminals 130 (Fig. 13) in the units row of the card sensingmachine are connected through the twelve switches associated with thesolenoids 144, 146, 148 and 150 of the units sub-division, to theterminals 144A, 146A, 148A and 150A as follows:

The contact 130 through the switch 154C (in its second position), to theterminal 150A, the 1 contact 130 through the switch 152D (in its firstposition), the switch 152C (in its first position), the switch 152B (inits first position) to the terminal 144A; the 2 contact 130 through theswitch 154A (in its first position), the switch 153C (in its firstposition), the switch 153C (in its first position) to the terminal 146A;the 3 contact 130 through the switch 152B (in its second position) tothe terminal 144A; the 4 contact 130 through the switch 153A (in itsfirst position), the switch 1533 (in its first position), the switch154D (in its first position) to the terminal 148A; the contact 130through the switch 153A (in its second position), the switch 1533 (inits first position), the switch 1548 (in its first position) to theterminal 148A; the 6 contact 130 through the switch 152C (in its secondposition) to the terminal 146A; the 7" contact 130 through the switch152A (in its first position), the switch 1548 .(in its first position),the switch 154C (in its first position) to the terminal 150A; the 8contact 130 through the switch 152A (in its second position), the switch154B (in its first position), the switch 154C (in its first position) tothe terminal 150A; the 9 contact 130 through switch 154B (in its secondposition), the switch 154C (in its first position) to the terminal 150A.

The ten terminals 130 of the tens and hundreds rows are similarlyconnected with the solenoids of the tens" and hundreds sub-divisions137, 138, as will be clear from the foregoing.

An automatic stop solenoid 159 (Fig. 12) is provided for switching edthe prime mover which drives the platen mechanism 8, the delay device,the printing device sensing means 21 and the feeding mechanism of theprinting machine.

The automatic stop solenoid 159 is connected between the positiveterminal 139 and the negative terminal 151 through a switch 160 when thelatter is in its first position, this position being that shown in Fig.12. When the switch 160 is in its second position it connects one end ofthe solenoid 114 with the negative terminal 151, the other end of thesolenoid 114 being connected with the positive terminal 139 through theswitch 168 or through a switch 164A. The switch 160 is operated by asolenoid 161. When the solenoid 161 is unenergized the switch 160 isspring urged into its first position and when the solenoid 161 isenergized, the switch 160 is moved to its second position. A switch 162is similarly controlled by the solenoid 161. The switch 162 in its firstposition closes a series circuit from the positive terminal 139 throughthe switches 99 and 98, and a warning lamp 163, to the negative terminal151. In its second position the switch 162 closes a series circuit frompositive terminal 139 through the switches 99 and 98, and the solenoid161, to the negative terminal 151. A re-setting switch 164 spring urgedto be normally open is connected for directly energizing the solenoid161 across the terminals 139 and 151. The switch 164 is mechanicallyconnected to the switch 164A so that they open and close together.

The printing machine and sensing mechanism described above are used asfollows:

A stack of tabbed printing devices 3 is placed in the magazine 4 and astack of cards 85 is placed in the hopper 847 Each printing device 3carries matter to be printed and all the devices 3 together form acomplete set. There is a corresponding complete set of record cards 85,one particular card 85 corresponding to one particular device 3. Byselecting any of the cards 85 and placing them in the hopper 84,corresponding devices 3 will be selected and printed. it is, of course,important that the sequence. of cards 85 and device 3 is alwayspreserved. The tabs 22 are inserted in the sockets 19 in appropriatepositions so that the printing devices 3 are numbered consecutively. Thecards 85 in the complete set of cards are punched, and the punch holes132 are appropriately placed so that corresponding cards and deviceshave the same number. The switches 164 and 164A are closed. Closing theswitch 164 energizes the solenoid 161 which then moves the switches 160and 162 to their second positions. When the switch 162 moves to itssecond position, the solenoid 161 is maintained energized through theclosed switches 98 and 99, these switches remaining closed so long asone card at a time is fed along the guideway 88. When the switch 160moves to its second position, the solenoid 114 is energized through theswitch 164A, and the clutch is engaged to cause the motor 109 to drivethe chain 107. The switches 164 and 164A are maintained closed until thefirst card 85 reaches the sensing position C, whereupon they arereleased. With the first device 3 in sensing position, the first card 85in sensing position, the solenoid 161 energized so that the switches 160and 162 are in their second position, and the switch 168 open, theprinting machine proceeds successively to sense the printing devices.The first printing device 3 remains in the sensing device 21 whilst thesensing operation is taking place thereat. and the first card 85 remainsin the card sensing position C whilst being sensed. The sensing device21 descends and some of the pins 30 encountcr tabs 22 whereby some ofthe pairs of contacts 37, 38 are closed. At the same time, three rows ofneedles descend and three of these needles pass through holes 132 in thecard 85 in the card sensing position C. The sensing device 21 and theplate 117 then rise lifting their pins 30 and needles 120 respectivelyclear of the tabs 21 and card 85 respectively. If, during the twosensing operations, a circuit through the contacts 128 and is not closedby corresponding contacts 37, 38 closing, one or more of the threemaster switches 156, 157, 158 remains open and the selector solenoid 71is not energized so that the striker arm 64 causes one of the blocks 62to be moved to the second position, whereby the lever 81 will be trippedat the appropriate time to prevent the platen mechanism 8 from printingthe sensed plate when it reaches the position 5. Furthermore, the switch168 is not closed so that no release impulse is sent to the solenoid114. The clutch 116 is, therefore, not engaged and the card advancingmechanism retains the same card in the sensing position C. The feedingmechanism then moves the printing device 3 just sensed towards theprinting position and moves the next device 3 now at the bottom of thestack in the magazine 4 to sensing position. The printing device 3 whichhas just been sensed eventually passes through the printing position 5without being printed and drops into the collecting drawer 7.

If, during sensing, the circuits through the contacts 128 and terminals130 associated with the three needles 120 which pass through the punchedholes 132 and encounter the base plate 126, are closed through thecontacts 37, 38 of the plate sensing device 21, the three masterswitches 156, 157 and 158 are closed and the selector solenoid 71 isenergized whereby the striker arm 64 is prevented from moving one of theblocks 62 from its first to its second position, and a release impulseis transmitted to the solenoid 114. The card advancing mechanismtherefore moves the sensed card 85 to the card receiver 90 and moves thenext card 85 to the sensing position C ready for the next sensingoperation.

When the device 3 which has undergone sensing reaches the printingposition 5, the block 62 which has not moved from its first to itssecond position fails to trip the lever 81 and this enables the platenmechanism 8 to operate and thus make an impression, the device 3 beingthereafter moved into the collecting drawer 7.

By continued operation of the machine it will be realized that animpression is made for every device 3 for which there is a correspondingcard 85 in the stack in the hopper 84. No impression will, however, bemade for those printing devices 3 for which there is no correspondingcard 85 in the stack in the hopper 84. The cards 85 therefore act asrecord carriers for determining which printing devices shall, and whichshall not, be printed. It is of course, to be understood that thedevices 3 in the stack of printing devices must be arranged in the sameorder as the cards 85 in the complete set of cards, and when cards arewithdrawn from the set of cards, the order of the cards 85 remaining inthe stack must not be altered. It should also be understood that theremust be a corresponding printing device for every card 85, but thereneed not be a corresponding card for every device. Devices 3 for whichthere are no cards 85 are merely skipped through the printing machine,but a card for which there is no plate would merely remain in the cardsensing position C and all the plates would be skipped through. When thelast card 85 has passed into the sensing position C the micro switch 98is opened and the solenoid 161 de-energized. The switches 160 and 162move to their first position, and the solenoid 114 is de-energized. Inspite of this de-energizing of the solenoid 114, the clutch 110 remainsengaged until the end of the cycle, i. e. until the last card has beensensed. When the switch 160 moves to its first position the solenoid 159is energized and stops the printing machine. The re-set switch 164 isthen closed and with it switch 164A. This has the effect of energizingthe solenoid 114, and the last card 85 is cleared from the sensingposition C into the receiver 90.

It will be understood that the automatic stop solenoid 159 is energizednot only when the last card from the hopper is sensed, but also when acard fails to feed into the sensing position (switch 98 opens), and whentwo cards feed simultaneously into the sensing position (switch 99opens) and being thus energized will cause the printing machine to beswitched off.

It is to be understood that the printing machine may employ the printingdevice sensing device described above in conjunction with a furthersensing device of similar construction to the first-mentioned sensing.device but having its pins disposed to encounter portions of the sur-.

faces of the tabs 22 different from the portions encountered by the pins30. If a tab 22 is required to be sensed by one sensing device and notby the other, part of the tab 22 will be modified as indicated by thedotted lines of the right-hand three tabs 22 in Fig. 3, so that the pinsof the other sensing device will not encounter the tab.

The pins of the further sensing device are located in the holes 44 ofbeam 25.

For example, if a tab 22 is required to be sensed only by the sensingdevice 21 a short tab is used, which ensures that the sensing pin of thefurther sensing device misses the tab. If, however, the tab is requiredto be sensed by both sensing devices the tab is made long enough to beencountered by both pins during the sensing operations. This allows thetabbing of a plate to remain constant, when the sensing device 21 is notbeing used, and the machine is required for plate selection work by thefurther sensing device only. The further sensing device may also be usedin conjunction with the sensing device 21 where devices 3 are requiredto print, but for which there is no corresponding card 85, for instance,when an insurance agents device (for which there is no card) is requiredto print a heading at the top of a list of policy holders for whichthere are cards. The agents plate is tabbed in the appropriate positionwith a tab having a hole 167 that allows the corresponding pin 30 of thesensing device 21 to pass through the tab 22 and be inoperative whilethe pin of the further sensing device impinges on the tab 22, and setsthe machine to print this device. Operation of this further pin can alsobe used to stop the machine when the plate is in the position ready forprinting, so that the previous agents sheet may be removed and replacedby a new sheet for the new agent.

The sensing device 21 is therefore entirely separate from the furthersensing device.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification.

I claim:

1. A printing machine comprising, an impression mechanism, a sensingmechanism positioned in advance of the impression mechanism, the sensingmechanism having shiftable sensing elements adapted to engage firstidentifying means arrangeable on printing devices feedable from thesensing mechanism to the printing mechanism, a second sensing mechanismhaving shiftable sensing elements adapted to engage second identifyingmeans arrangeable on record carriers feedable along a guideway to thesecond sensing mechanism, the elements in the first and second sensingmechanisms closing electrical contact switches when shifted, a solenoidenergizable when the first and second identifying means are sensed asbeing in agreement, a rotatable member mounted in the machine andprovided with a plurality of storage elements, said rotatable memberbeing movable accordingly as the printing devices advance from the firstsensing mechanism to the impression mechanism to present storageelements one by one to a striker, the striker being periodicallyoperated toward and away from the storage elements and adapted to shiftone or an other of the storage elements from a first position to asecond position, stop means in the path of the striker to hold thestriker out of engagement with respect to one or an other of the storageelements, the stop means being withdrawn from the said path when thesolenoid is unenergized, the storage elements being engageable with atrip mechanism for the impression mechanism when in a second position torender the impression mechanism inoperative.

2. In a printing machine of the kind described wherein printing devicesthat are to be individually advanced to a printing mechanism in themachine have identification means which are to be compared toidentification means on individual record carriers, and are to beprinted from or not by the printing mechanism depending upon whether ornot the respective identification means are in agreement, a sensingmechanism to which the printing devices are to be advanced one by one tohave the identification means thereon sensed prior to advancing to theprinting mechanism, another sensing mechanism to which the recordcarriers are to be advanced one by one to have the identification meansthereon sensed, feed means for the printing devices to feed the same oneby one first to the sensing mechanism therefor and then to the printingmechanism, feed means including a normally disengaged clutch for therecord carriers which when engaged is adapted to feed the same one byone to and from the sensing mechanism therefor, an electric relay deviceoperatively coupled to both sensing mechanisms for receiving informationtherefrom and indicating by different settings agreement or lack ofagreement between the respective identification means, a time delaydevice including a solenoid controlled through the settings of the relayfor recording and storing the fact of agreement or lack of agreement sothat such information may be acted upon when the printing device whichwas compared to a record carrier reaches the printing mechanism, meanscontrolled by said delay device to render the printing mechanisminoperative to print from a printing device for which there wasindicated lack of agreement by the relay device, and a solenoid undercontrol of said relay device energizable when there is agreement asaforesaid to cause said clutch to engage, the second named solenoidbeing otherwise deenergizable upon lack of agreement as aforesaid tointerrupt the feed for the carriers and hold at the carrier sensingmechanism the carrier not having agreement with the printing device lastsensed until a printing device advanced to the printing device sensingmechanism is determined to be in agreement therewith.

3. In a printing machine of the kind described wherein printing devicesthat are to be individually advanced to a printing mechanism in themachine each have a set of identifications which are to be compared to aset of identifications each on individual record carriers, and are to beprinted from or not by the printing mechanism depending upon whether ornot the respective sets of identifications are in agreement, a sensingmechanism to which the printing devices advance one by one to sensingposition to have the identifications thereon sensed prior to beingadvanced to the printing mechanism, another sensing mechanism to whichthe record carriers are advanced one by one to sensing position to havethe identifications thereon sensed, feed means for the printing devicesto feed the same one by one first to the sensing mechanism therefor andthen to the printing mechanism, feed means including a normallydisengaged clutch for the record carriers which when energized isadapted to feed the same one by one to and from the sensing mechanismtherefor in timed relation to the feed of the printing devices, anelectric relay device coupled to the respective sensing mechanisms forreceiving information of the respective sensing operations carried outthereby and indicating by different states of energization agreement orlack of agreement between the respective sets of identifications carriedby the printing device and the record carrier at sensing position, atime delay device under the control of the relay for recording andstoring the fact of agreement or lack of agreement as indicated by therelay so that such information may be acted upon when the printingdevice thus compared to a record carrier at the sensing stationallocated thereto reaches the printing mechanism, means controlled bysaid delay device to disable the printing mechanism when a printingdevice for which there was lack of agreement reaches the printingmechanism, and a solenoid under control of said relay device energizablewhen there is agreement as aforesaid to cause said clutch to engage,said solenoid being otherwise deenergized when there is lack ofagreement as aforesaid to interrupt the feed for the carriers and holdthe carrier last at the sensing station allocated thereto until there isadvanced to the first-named sensing station a printing device whichagrees with the carrier thus held.

4. In a printing machine of the kind described wherein printing devicesthat are to be individually advanced to a printing mechanism at aprinting station in the machine have identification means which are tobe compared to identification means on individual record carriers, andare to be printed from or not when located in printing position at theprinting station depending upon whether or not the respectiveidentifications are in agreement, a sensing mechanism to which theprinting devices are to be advanced one by one to sensing position tohave the identification means thereon sensed prior to advancing to theprinting mechanism, another sensing mechanism to which the recordcarriers are to be advanced one by one to sensing position to have theidentification means thereon sensed, a feed for the printing devices tonormally feed the same in sequence one by one first to the sensingmechanism therefor and then to and from the printing mechanism, a feedfor the record carriers to cause the record carriers to be fed insequence to and from the sensing mechanism therefor, an electric relaydevice and control means responsive thereto coupled electrically to saidsensing mechanisms for receiving information regarding sensing therefromand indicating agreement or lack of agreement between the respectiveidentification means, a delay device adapted to rotate in timed relationto the feed of the printing devices and record carriers and includingindividual storage elements that are each allocated to a printing deviceat the firstnamed sensing position and which are each adapted to beshifted from one position to another to record and store informationregarding agreement or lack of agreement between the printing deviceallocated thereto and the corresponding record carrier at thesecond-named sensing position so that such information may be acted uponwhen and as the printing device which was compared to a record carrierreaches printing position, a striker under control of said control meansadapted to so shift said storage elements, and means at the printingstation under control of said shiftable elements in their differentpositions as determined by the striker to disable the printing mechanismwhen a printing device for which there was no agreement reaches theprinting station.

5. In a printing machine of the kind described wherein printing devicesthat are to be individually advanced to a printing mechanism at aprinting station in the machine have identification means which are tobe compared to identification means on individual record carriers, andare to be printed from or not when in printing position depending uponwhether or not the respective identifications are in agreement, asensing mechanism to which the printing devices are to be advanced oneby one to sensing position to have the identification means thereonsensed prior to advancing to the printing mechanism, another sensingmechanism to which the record carriers are to be advanced one by one tosensing position to have the identification means thereon sensed, a feedfor the printing devices to normally feed the same in sequence one byone first to the sensing mechanism therefor and then to and from theprinting mechanism, a feed for the record carriers to cause the recordcarriers to be fed in sequence to and from the sensing mechanismtherefor, an electrical relay device and a control means operativelyassociated therewith for receiving electrical impulses regarding sensingfrom the respective sensing mechanisms and indicating by differentstates of energization agreement or lack of agreement between therespective identification means, a delay device arranged to rotate intimed relation to the feed of the printing devices and the recordcarriers and including individual storage elements that are eachallocatable to a printing device at the first-named sensing position andwhich are each adapted to be shifted from one position to another torecord and store information regarding agreement or lack of agreementbetween the printing device so allocated and the corresponding recordcarrier at the second-named sensing position so that such informationmay be acted upon when and as the printing device which was compared toa record carrier reaches printing position, a striker under control ofsaid control means for so shifting said storage elements when the relaydevice requires it, means at the printing station under control of saidshiftable elements in their dilferent positions as determined by saidstriker for disabling the printing mechanism when a printing device forwhich there was lack of agreement reaches the printing station, andmeans operative when there is lack of agreement as aforesaid to disablethe feed for record carriers to and from the sensing mechanism thereforand thereby hold at the sensing station allocated thereto the recordcarrier for which no agreement was indicated until ultimately a printingdevice which agrees with the thus held record carrier is advanced to thefirst named sensing station during a subsequent cycle of the machine.

6. In a printing machine of the kind described wherein printing devicesthat are to be individually advanced to a printing mechanism at aprinting station in the machine have identification means which are tobe compared to identification means on individual record carriers, andare to be printed from or not when in printing position at the printingstation depending upon whether or not the respective identifications aredetermined in agreement, a sensing mechanism to which the printingdevices are to be advanced one by one to sensing position to have theidentification means thereon sensed prior to advancing to the printingmechanism, another sensing mechanism to which the record carriers are tobe advanced one by one to sensing position to have the identificationmeans thereon sensed, a feed for the printing devices to normally feedthe same in sequence one by one first to the sensing mechanism thereforand then to and from the printing mechanism, a feed for the recordcarriers including a clutch that is arranged for engagement during acycle of the machine to cause record carriers to be fed in sequence toand from the sensing mechanism therefor, an electric relay device and asolenoid controlled thereby for receiving information regarding sensingfrom the respective sensing mechanisms and indicating agreement or lackof agreement between the respective identification means, a rotatablestorage drum arranged to rotate in timed relation to the feed of theprinting devices and the record carriers and including individualstorage elements that are each a1- locatable to a printing device at thefirst-named sensing position and which are each shiftably mounted in thestorage drum for movement from one position to another to record andstore information regarding agreement or lack of agreement between theprinting device so allocated and the corresponding record carrier at thesecond-named sensing position so that such information may be acted uponwhen and as the printing device which was compared to a record carrierreaches printing position, a striker under control of said solenoid forso shifting said storage elements when the relay device requires it,means at the printing station under control of said shiftable elementsin their different positions as determined by said striker for disablingthe printing mechanism when a printing device for which there was lackof agreement reaches the printing station, and means operative whenthere is lack of agreement as aforesaid to hold said clutch disengagedand thereby hold at the sensing station allocated thereto the recordcarrier for which no agreement was indicated until a printing devicewhich ultimately agrees with the thus held record carrier is advanced tothe first-named sensing station during a subsequent cycle of themachine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,761,741 Pierce June 3, 1930 1,862,032 Pierce June 7, 1932 1,978,893Carroll et al. Oct. 30, 1934 2,016,709 Eichenauer Oct. 8, 1935 2,083,061Gollwitzer June 8, 1937 2,094,010 Hartley Sept. 28, 1937 2,132,413Gollwitzer Oct. 11, 1938 2,168,763 Daly Aug. 8, 1939 2,355,796Gollwitzer Aug. 15, 1944 2,359,852 Morse Oct. 10, 1944 2,373,222 BobstApr. 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,954 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1931

